Review: Suzuki JB74 Jimny goes camping

We all know how popular the current JB74 Suzuki Jimny has been since its release back in 2019. Internationally popular, too, not just in Australia. And while I can’t help but agree that the 2021 Jimny is a fun and capable 4x4, let’s be honest … it’s not exactly a large vehicle.

I’ve owned Suzuki 4x4s my entire driving life, my first ever vehicle was a Suzuki Sierra I paid $1200 for. I still own one to this day in a state of constant evolution. The only way I can describe owning any Suzuki 4x4, is an unhealthy relationship filled with a broad spectrum of passion-charged emotion. The highs are high, the lows can be low. One thing is for sure, though: Life will never be dull when you own a Suzuki 4x4.

Here’s a prime example. I made it from Mascot to Newtown in the inner-west of Sydney after picking up the Jimny, before someone waved at me. Normally, when people wave at me it means my latest Marketplace purchase has caught on fire, or something vital had fallen off it.

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This time, it was a bloke in another Jimny; nicely modified, too. He just wanted to let me know he had a Jimny as well. I’d forgotten all about the so-called Jimny wave, similar to the Jeep wave (just less expensive). You are buying into just as enthusiastic a way of life, though. A life of being wet, muddy and covered in sand, yet with a smile on your face the whole time.

Basically, I know full well what it’s like to live with such an endearing yet challenging vehicle. Which is why I decided to push the boundaries and load up this friendly looking Kinetic Yellow Jimny with a stack of camping gear and head for the hills. I wanted to see what you could actually take on a trip if you were to head away for a weekend in a Jimny. I was pleasantly surprised at what could fit inside, all with relative ease too thanks to those box-like dimensions and the ability to fold the back seats flat.

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I’d love to see the factory turbo motor from the Suzuki Swift offered. That would be next level fun

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE

With just 75kW of power and 130Nm of torque, the Jimny certainly doesn’t set the world on fire performance-wise. But while those figures seem low, you have to remember this is a light vehicle, and that 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine likes to rev. In fact, it makes peak torque at 4000rpm, so you have to drive it accordingly. I’d love to see the factory turbo motor from the Suzuki Swift offered. That would be next level fun. One can dream …

Our test vehicle was equipped with the five-speed manual, which would be the most popular choice for most Jimny owners. There is also a four-speed automatic transmission available. At highway speeds, a six-speed manual would really settle things down in terms of cabin noise and fuel consumption.

Speaking of fuel consumption, we managed to record an average of 7.5L/100km. This was recorded over mixed terrain including highway, around town and off-road. Not bad considering the manufacturer’s quoted figure is 6.4L/100km, and we had a decent amount of camping gear on-board for the majority of the test period.

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ON-ROAD RIDE & HANDLING

Let’s be real, this isn’t going to be a strong point for any SWB four-wheel drive, but the JB74 Suzuki Jimny certainly is a fun vehicle to drive around in (have you noticed a theme). The ride is very soft and floaty, so much so that when you tuck your seatbelt in, the vehicle moves with you. But this softness also provides a decent ride quality on-road for what it is.

There’s plenty of body roll around sharp corners, but it’s not an issue at lower speeds around town. I actually really enjoyed driving the Jimny around my local area, thanks to the high amounts of visibility and sheer fun factor offered by this pint-sized off-roader. The bright Kinetic Yellow colour choice also helped finding the little Jimny in the shopping centre carpark.

On the highway, things are a little more intense as the Jimny revs its little heart out trying to keep up with traffic. In this manual transmission-equipped Jimny, revs sat at around 3300rpm while cruising at 110km/h. It has a habit of being blown around by trucks too, which requires a fair amount of steering input to keep true.

The JB74 certainly is a big leap forward from the previous model, but at the end of the day it is still a small, lightweight, brick-shaped vehicle. It’s all part of the fun and experience of driving something as unique as the Jimny. As they say, life is too short for boring cars.

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OFF-ROAD

There are very few four-wheel drives that compete with the Jimny in terms of off-road ability. I’m not saying that it is the most capable 4x4 around, far from it. But thanks to the small dimensions and impressive approach and departure angles, you can drive lines and tracks not possible in a full-sized fourbie. It’s a hoot.

Ground clearance is the biggest limitation, with the suspension radius arms mounted low under the chassis. Again, the aftermarket industry can help fix this, with both suspension lift kits and protection plates which prevent the chassis mounts from being damaged.

The All-Grip traction control system found in the Jimny is pretty damn good, too. If you keep the revs up, it works to send traction to the wheels with grip by applying brake pressure to the spinning wheel. If you don’t keep the revs up though, the vehicle will want to stall rather easily. This is definitely one area the automatic gearbox would have the advantage off-road.

I love seeing a traditional and simple 4WD lever in the cabin, to do away with troublesome dials that can take time to work out what you’ve asked them to do. It’s easy to know when the Jimny is in 4WD, something that can be done on the fly at speeds up to 100km/h in high-range. Low-range activation must be made when the vehicle is at a standstill.

With coil springs on all four corners, and solid axles, you’d expect decent suspension articulation from the Jimny. It’s okay but definitely something that could be improved with more money spent on aftermarket accessories. In fact, a suspension upgrade (or GVM upgrade) would be the first modification I’d make if I was to buy a JB74 Jimny. Which, one day, I hope to do.

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CABIN & ACCOMMODATION

Suzuki has done a wonderful job creating a fun yet practical interior. It’s almost cartoonish, but not in a brash or cheap-feeling way. The dash layout is simple, sturdy and effective. It’s definitely not luxurious, nor should it be. There are so many throwbacks to previous Suzuki 4x4s as well, such as the dash cluster which is a nod to the instruments used in the older SJ70 Suzuki Sierra.

There are plenty of modern features like a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and safety tech like Autonomous Emergency Braking. However, with a three-star ANCAP rating, it’s certainly not one of the safest new vehicles on the road.

I personally like the feel and looks of the cloth seats, but this is entirely subjective. One thing I don’t love is the lack of storage and the strange positioning of the cupholders. They’re behind you, so you can’t really see where you’ve put your water bottle. There is also only one USB port, which you need to plug in to pair your phone to the touchscreen. There is a 12V socket, so a simple dual-USB adaptor would be a wise addition. Another point worth mentioning is the LED headlights with High Beam Assist, which are nice and bright when the sun goes down.

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PRACTICALITIES

This was a major component of this test. As mentioned previously, I wanted to see just how much camping gear you can fit into such a small package with the seats folded down. I managed to fit the following camping equipment inside with room left over for additional water, firewood or a decent-size air compressor.

On-board was a 75L fridge (massive overkill for this vehicle, but it fit and I like beer), two camp chairs, a 200w folding solar blanket, portable power station, single swag, storage tub (with cooking gear and food), camp table, recovery gear (snatch strap and shackles), and a bag of clothes.

There was nothing stored on the passenger seat, so for two people it could seriously work as a micro-camping machine. A set of lightweight roof racks (Suzuki recommend 30kg max roof load limit) would see an awning bolted on for shelter, and space for a double swag on the roof. Pretty impressive stuff.

One limitation worth mentioning, though, is the small 40L fuel tank. It’s not a deal breaker, just something you’ll need to be aware of. Luckily, the aftermarket again has you covered here with 80-litre long-range fuel tanks available to double your range.

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SUMMARY

It’s fun, cheap to buy, capable off-road and pretty good on fuel. In saying that, with the recent price increases, the Jimny is dangerously close to being too expensive for what it is (in my opinion). I really want to buy one, but considering there’s a waiting list of apparently six to 12 months, and prices are coming in at around or over $30,000 drive-away (depending on options), you have to really want a Jimny to make it work. For me, if it was $25,000 drive-away, I’d put an order in tomorrow and then fit some bigger, more aggressive tyres, a lift kit and a lightweight roof rack.

I get that the popularity and short supply has created a huge demand for the little Zook, and that’s great news for Suzuki. I’d like to think that when things calm down and supply increases, prices will drop. But then again, I can’t see that happening anytime soon.

So, yes, the JB74 Jimny lives up to its hype. Yes, you can daily drive a Jimny and take one four-wheel driving. And yes, you can fit a decent amount of camping gear inside if you pack smart. It’s not what I’d call comfortable, and it’s a challenge on the highway, but if that’s not an issue for you, and you just want a Jimny, there’s nothing else like it on the market.

We’re looking forward to driving the new Jimny Lite which is due for release soon and should come in a few grand cheaper.